Syllabus Statements on Integrity and/or Generative AI

When indicating on syllabi and assignment instructions that students can use generative AI, instructors should clearly indicate for what assignments and to what extent this permission applies. It is similar to indicating the permissable extent of collaboration with other students. The following statements may be useful in crafting your own (University of Toronto, 2024).

• Students are encouraged to make use of generative AI tools to help understand course material.
• Students may use generative AI to help produce assignments in this course. However, students are accountable for the quality of the work they submit.
• Students must submit, as an appendix with their assignments, any content produced by an artificial intelligence tool and the prompt used to generate the content.
• Students are expected to use generative AI tools in this course and must include with every assignment a short reflection on how they made use of generative AI tools in the development of their work.
• Any content produced by artificial intelligence must be cited appropriately. Every citation and reference style includes acceptable formats for crediting AI sources. See the StFX Academic Success Centre's guide to citing AI generated content.
• Students may choose to use generative AI tools in assignments for this course. In an appendix to each assignment, students must describe tool(s) used, how they were used, and how the results were incorporated.
• Course instructors may request students to explain their process for using and integrating the products of generative AI tools.

It is important to be very specific about limitations on the use of generative AI, as well as to avoid placing vague or impractical limitations (such as, "use for ideas..."). Consider the following suggestions. While preparing any such statements, consider carefully how you expect to verify adherence to these rules, given the ubiquity of embedded AI tools.

• Students may use generative AI tools for creating an outline for an assignment, but the final submitted text must be original work produced by the individual student alone. The generated outline should be included as an appendix to the assignment.
• Students may use artificial intelligence tools for critiquing and editing an assignment for purposes of revision, but the first draft must be original work produced by the student alone. The first draft should be submitted as an appendix to the final draft of the assignment.
• Students may not use artificial intelligence tools for taking tests, writing papers, creating computer code, or completing assignments. However, these tools may be useful when gathering and interpreting information.
• Students may not use AI tools for tests in this course, but the same tools may be used for all other assignments.
• Students may use only the following generative AI tools for completing assignments in this course: ______ . No other generative AI tools are permitted to be used.
• Any content produced by artificial intelligence must be cited appropriately. Every citation and reference style includes acceptable formats for crediting AI sources. See the StFX Academic Success Centre's guide to citing AI generated content.
• If you have any questions about the acceptable use of generative AI tools in this course, please speak with the instructor.

Fully disallowing generative AI tools will become increasingly challenging, as the same technology is ever more embedded in commonly used technology (Google, Microsoft Word, etc.). It may in fact soon become difficult for even the best-intentioned student to successfully avoid generative AI. It is important to be clear about exactly what is prohibited (as well as how you expect to verify adherence to the rule). The following statements may be useful.

• You may use generative AI tools (e.g.: ChatGPT, Grammarly, Microsoft Copilot, etc.) for learning and practicing the concepts presented in this course, but you may NOT use these tools to complete assignments in this course.
• The use of generative AI tools in this course is prohibited. The use of these tools in any form of academic work for this course will be considered a violation of academic integrity.
• Representing as one's own any idea that was generated by AI may be considered a violation of academic integrity in this course.
• Students may not copy or paraphrase from any generative AI tools for the purpose of completing assignments in this course.
• This course policy is designed to promote your learning and intellectual development and to help you reach the course learning outcomes. Reliance on generative AI tools can only prevent you from learning in this course.

StFX recognizes that academic integrity is essential to scholarship and learning, and as such students are expected to understand the meaning and consequences of plagiarism and other forms of cheating. These are defined in Section 3.8 of the Academic Calendar and in the StFX Academic Integrity Policy.

Potential offences include:

1. Using someone else's words, ideas, or any other form of intellectual property without proper acknowledgement
2. Submitting material for assessment that already has been submitted elsewhere
3. Falsifying sources or facts
4. Using or possessing unauthorized aids in a test setting
5. Misrepresenting your identity in a test setting
6. Falsifying any official document or record
7. Collaborating with someone else in the production of work for assessment

The university takes seriously its responsibility to preserve academic integrity, and the consequences of these acts and others outlined in the policy can be severe, often including the loss of grade value for an assignment and the loss of credit for the courses in which the offence happened. Learn the rules and find help at the following site:

https://www.stfx.ca/student-services/academic-services/academic-success-centre/academic-integrity

You have the option to require an honour/integrity/honesty pledge on any exam or assignment. Such pledges are most effective when they reference specific activities and values, rather than "academic integrity" in the abstract. The following may be adapted at will.

• I promise that I will not give or receive any unauthorized help or use any unauthorized tools on this exam, and that all my work will be my own. Name: ______
• I affirm that I have not given or received any unauthorized help or used any unauthorized tools on this assignment, and that all work is my own. Name: ______
• I accept responsibility for my role in ensuring that my group does not give or receive any unauthorized help or use any unauthorized tools on this assignment. Name: ______